Update and Big Family Changes

Holy Moly, it's been awhile.

Maybe it's because life is just happening and there wasn't much to report... but things are changing around here like wildfire. And it felt like a good time to open the blog again.

First of all, we moved to Colorado about 1 1/2 years ago and we absolutely love it. Every mountain-y fresh inch of it. We love the people, the view, the crazy weather, our house, our church... all of it. We don't have much complaining going on, Joel has a sweet job here with the Marines, no deployments, it's quite nice.

David has been growing big time this year... in February the doctor told me he didn't gain any weight in about 9 months and that I might need to see a nutritionist and I asked for 3 months (I def didn't want to add to our list of appointments). And wow, he gained nearly 5 pounds in that time and 8 pounds total in less than a year. He is so big and finally bulky like a boy! He is starting to get his own identity (and some sass), has some very insightful things to say, playing like a rough and tumble boy, likes to get the sister riled up, walking has drastically improved, and overall a delight. He loves to sing, ride horses (therapeutic), play with cars, ride his bike (!!!!!) and watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.

David is always walking now, he does have a funny step to it and Anna is always asking about why that is and if it will ever improve. My answer is I don't know... and we can keep on praying to God for that. Anna's heart is so sweet for her brother to be able to run and jump like others. David uses his left hand almost all of the time now. He does still get frustrated with it but it's amazing to see the improvement. He speaks great and a lot. I don't know even what else to say about him except that we love him and feel blessed by how God has worked in him.

So... on to the big shift in family life. Joel and I have been thinking about adoption for quite a while. Probably as far as 2 years ago. Life was crazy, we moved, sort of forgot for a bit, then we had orphan Sunday at our church. God stirred in our hearts, and we signed up to take classes in Jan with the county for foster/adoption. We went through the process -- tons of classes, a home study and lots of paperwork. Finally (9 months later), we had decided to maybe just do respite for awhile for a few reasons UNLESS the perfect case would present itself. Well... a few days before we were officially certified our caseworker presented us 2 little girls, sisters, who were foster to adopt children. A 4 week old and a 2 1/2 year old. WHAT?! It was quite a shock but didn't take long to say YES! We had only a few days to decide and they would be in our home in 3 days! So, we got ourselves together, some friends were very generous with their things (huge help!) and Monday afternoon our family increased to 6!

I have to be honest I wasn't expecting such young children... or maybe my heart wasn't letting me think that something like this could happen. Birth order (0,2,4,6)? A new baby? Woah. And possible adoption? (Amazing.)

Before we get too excited... the county's promise is that they will do anything and everything to reunify the kids with their family. Which seems crazy at first, until you do the research and read the studies... it is the best for them. We don't know details about how long or when things will be decided, could be 6 months to 2 years!

So, for a little over a month we have enjoyed the sweetest, cutest little girls. They are amazing and adjusting well. The toddler's speech is slightly delayed, she doesn't ask much about parents or seem to be having too much trouble with the change. Definitely positively attaching to me. The baby is far more calm and sweet than even my own kids were at 2 months!!! Other than that our house is noisy, there is a ton of laundry, lots of spills, giggles, dancing, playing, fighting, eating and it takes much longer to get in the car. Normal stuff. Our kids are doing well (a little hard in the beginning). Lots of questions about keeping the girls come up and we just reinforce that we are taking care of them until they have to go home (or they get to be home with us). Joel said it well one day when I asked him how he was doing and his thoughts, he said, I assume and will treat them like they are ours until they are not. Such wise and practical words from my sweet husband.

Though I cannot share the full details of this adventure and all the whys (which some I don't even know anyhow). I will say would you pray with us. That God would bless our home/family, bless the girls and their parents (healing and reunification -- the kids have not had a visit in a month and that is extremely rare, the parents are not showing up), give us wisdom as we walk this journey and most importantly that we would lean on God through it all.

Thank you for all of your support and prayers, truly could not do all of this without it!